Guardrail construction



Feb. 21, 1967 v, KUNG GUARDRAIL CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug.17, 1964 INVENTOR. EUGENE V. KLfNG,

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 21, 1967 v KLlNG 3,305,221

GUARDRAIL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 1'7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.EUGENE V Kuma,

ATTORNEYS- Feb. 21, 1967 Filed Aug. 17, 1964 E. v. KLING 3,305,221

GUARDRAIL CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS- Feb. 21, 1967 E v,KUNG I 3,305,221

GUARDRAIL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENEueENeVKL X Z; diam 0 ATTORN 5Y5.

United States Patent 3,305,221 GUARDRAIL CONSTRUCTION Eugene V. Kling,10333 Wayne Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45215 Filed Aug. 17, 1964, Ser. No.389,880 9 Claims. (Cl. 25621) This invention relates to guardrails orbalustrades and has to do more particularly with a guardrailconstruction embodying interlocking post and rail members which may bereadily assembled and which coact with additional rail members toprovide a number of distinctively different guardrail assemblies all ofwhich are formed from the same basic components.

A principal object of the instant invention is the provision of aguardrail construction wherein the posts and rails are formed fromextruded aluminum or similar material, and wherein the extrusions may beformed in unit lengths which may be cut to the desired size to .providethe required parts for any given guardrail.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a postconstruction wherein the posts are each formed from an interlocking pairof extruded members, but wherein the extruded members are of identicalconfiguration so that only a single die is required to form the postmembers.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a top railconstruction also formed from two interfitting parts, but wherein one ofthe top rail parts is also designed to serve as a bottom rail or as avertical support extending between the top and bottom rails.

Still a further object of the instant invention is the provision of aguardrail construction of the character described wherein the posts andrails may mount a diversity of barrier materials ranging from solidpanels to wire mesh and including spindles, bars, louvers, and the like.

Still a further object of the instant invention is the provision of aguardrail construction of the character described wherein novel meansare provided to lock the component parts together to the elimination ofscrews, bolts, or other externally visible fastening means.

The foregoing, together with other objects of the invention which willappear hereinafter or which will be apparent to the skilled worker inthe art upon the reading of this specification, are accomplished bythose constructions and arrangements of parts of which certain exemplaryembodiments shall now be described.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a guardrail constructed in accordancewith the instant invention, the view serving to illustrate variousalternative barrier treatments which may be employed.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the extruded member employed toform the guardrail posts.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of a locking bar for lockingtogether two of the posts defining members.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the locking bar.

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view illustrating two of the postsdefining members in interlocking engagement.

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view similar to FIG- URE 7 but showingthe locking bars in engagement with the post defining members.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIGURE8.

FIGURE 10 is an end elevational view of one of the rail forming members.

FIGURE 11 is an end elevational view of another rail forming memberadapted to coact with the rail forming member of FIGURE 10 to definelower rail parts and also vertical supports.

FIGURE 12 is an end elevational view illustrating the rail forming partsof FIGURES 10 and 11 in assembled condition.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line13-13 of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is an end elevational view of the top rail forming member, theview also illustrating in dotted lines the coaction of such member withthe rail member illustrated in FIGURE .10.

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line15-15 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating themanner in which the top rail assembly is joined to the post assembly.

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating themanner in which the bottom rail assembly is joined to the post assembly.

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating themanner in which vertically disposed spindles, bars or the like may besecured between the top and bottom rails.

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken awayto illustrate the manner in which a wire mesh may be employed as abarrier material, including the utilization of vertical supportsextending between the top and bottom rail assemblies.

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view with parts brokenaway illustrating the manner in which solid panels may be utilized as abarrier.

For a general understanding of the invention, reference is first made toFIGURE 1 of the drawings wherein an exemplary guardrail is illustrated.As seen therein, the guardrail comprises a plurality of spaced apartpost assemblies 1 interconnected along their uppermost edges by a toprail assembly 2, the uppermost member of which may conveniently span aplurality of the post assemblies, depending upon the length of theguardrail being constructed. Lower rail assemblies 3 extend betweenadjacent posts and will be spaced upwardly from the lowermost ends ofthe posts in the manner illustrated. If desired, and as seen at theleftmost end of FIGURE 1, additional vertical supports 4 may extendbetween the top rail assembly and the lower rail assembly, the verticalsupports being basically identical in construction to the lower railassembly. Similarly, horizontal supports 5, also of essentiallyidentical construction to the lower rail assemblies, may be provided, asseen at the rightmost end of FIGURE 1. The foregoing assembliesconstitute the basic components of the guardrail and are supplemented byvarious barrier materials which may be arranged to extend between theposts and rails or other supports, as the case may be. Thus, the barriermay comprise a solid panel 6 formed from metal, plastic, or other planarmaterial, such panel being secured directly to the posts and rails.Alternatively, the barrier may comprise a wire mesh 7 extending betweenadjacent posts and the enclosing top and bottom rail sections; or as avariation the wire mesh 7a may extend laterally between a pair ofvertically disposed supports 4 spaced inwardly from the adjacent postassemblies. Spaced apart spindles or bars 8 may extend between the topand bottom rail assemblies; or a corrugated panel, such as the moldedFiberglas panel 9 may be fitted between adjacent posts and thehorizontally disposed supports 5, as illustrated at the rightmost end ofFIGURE 1. that the foregoing examples are merely representative It is tobe understood of different treatments which may be employed; and itshould be readily apparent that diverse other barrier materials could beemployed and fastened directly to the post and rails or to variouscombinations of vertical and horizontal supports.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the post assemblies 1 areeach composed of a pair of like extrusions 10 having a body 11 which isgenerally U-shaped in cross section and terminates along one side edgein an inturned longitudinal bead 12. At its opposite side edge the bodyterminates in a reversely bent portion 13 which defines an outwardlyopening longtudinal channel 14 which, as will be explained more fullyhereinafter, is of a size to slidably receive and retain thelongitudinal head 12 of another extrusion brought into mating engagementtherewith. The inner surface of the body 11 is also provided with anopposing pair of inwardly directed longitudinal shoulders 15 and 16which coact with the reversely bent portion 13 of a mating extrusion toreceive a locking member 17 which, as seen in FIGURES and 6, comprises arelatively fiat bar which may be formed from metal or other suificientlyrigid material so that it may be wedged in place.

FIGURE 7 illustrates the manner in which a pair of the extrusions arejoined together to form a post. As seen therein, the longitudinal bead12a of extrusion a is received in the channel 14b of extrusion 10b; andconversely, the longitudinal bead 12b is received in the channel 14a.While in the embodiment illustrated the extrusions define a rectangularpost, it will be understood that their specific shapes do not constitutea limitation on the invention, and that the extrusions may be of roundor oval shape if so desired. Fundamentally, however, they will be ofwhat may be deemed generally U-shaped in cross section and they willincorporate the interfitting longitudinal bead and channel construction.The diameter or cross sectional dimension of the longitudinal head 12will be larger than the opening or mouth of the channel 14; andpreferably the mating extrusions will be fitted together by being placedend to end and then effecting axial movement of the two members towardeach other so as to join them together.

Once the two extrusions have been joined together in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 7, the locking members 17 are then inserted in themanner illustrated in FIGURE 8, wherein it will be seen that the member17a is wedged between the longitudinal shoulders 15a, 16a and thereversely bent portions 13a and 1312. Similarly, the locking member 17bengages between the shoulders 15b, 16b and the opposite ends ofreversely bent portions 13a and 13b. The wedging action of the lockingmembers 17a and 1712 thus serves to fixedly join the extrusion togetherin the absence of external fastening means; and for practical purposesthe post assembly has the external appearance of a solid post. Yet aswill become more apparent hereinafter, the ability to assemble the poston the job site also permits the ready attachment of the barriermaterial-such as a wire meshto the inside surfaces of the posts and alsofacilitates the attachment of the rail members prior to the assembly ofthe post.

Referring now to FIGURE 10 of the drawings, the extrusion 18 forms apart of the top rail assembly as well as the lower rail assembly and thevertical and horizontal supports. It too comprises a generally U-shapedbody 19 terminating along its free side edges in longitudinallyextending inturned flanges 20 and 21. Where such extrusion is employedas a bottom rail or support and it is desired to close the remainingside of the member, a mating cover member 22 may be employed, as seen inFIGURE 11. Where the assembly is to be of rectangular shape, the covermember may comprise a planar base 23 having a pair of upwardlyprojecting longitudial ribs 24, 25 having out-turned lips 26 and 27,respectively. As seen in FIGURE 12, the dimensioning of the parts issuch that the out-turned lips 26 and 27 engage above flanges 20 and 21of the extrusion 18 when the parts are interconnected. Again, it ispreferred that the parts be interconnected by placing them end to endand sliding them together axially; although depending upon thedimensioning of the parts and the resiliency of the material from whichthe members are formed, they may be snapfitted together.

Referring now to FIGURE 14 which shows thetop rail assembly, it will beseen that the assembly includes an extrusion 18 which, in this instance,is interlocked with an extrusion 28 which defines a cap portion for thetop rail. The extrusion 28 thus has an essentially U-shaped body 29 thefree longitudinal edges of which are inturned, as at 30 and 31; but inthis instance the inturned edges either abut or lie in close proximityto the opposite sides of the extrusion 18. Interlocking engagement ofthe parts is effected by means of locking plate 32 which is suspendedfrom body 29 by means of spaced apart ribs 32a and 32b, the ribs alsomounting outwardly projecting longitudinal tongues 33 and 34 whichparallel the plate 32 and lie in spaced relationship thereto. As will beevident from FIGURE 14, the dimensioning of the parts is such that theflanges 20 and 21 of the extrusion 18 will be received between andengaged by the opposite side edges of the plate 32 and the outer edgesof tongues 33 and 34.

The rails and supports may be conveniently connected to each other andto the posts by means of locking tongues provided at the ends of theextrusions 18. Thus, with reference to FIGURES 13 and 15, the extrusions18 are provided with locking tongues 35 projecting outwardly from theirend edges. Where the extrusions comprise a part of the top railassemblies, the tongues may be engaged with the post assembly 1 in themanner illustrated in FIGURE 16 wherein it will be seen that the tongues35 are fitted in slots 36 which may be cut in the body of the extrusions10, whereupon the tongues are inserted in the slots and folded over soas to lock therein. This will be done prior to the joining together ofthe extrusions making up the post assembliesor at least prior to theinsertion of the locking member 17. Similarly, where the extrusions 18comprise a part of the lower rail assembly 3, the tongues 35 will beinserted in slots 36a, as seen in FIGURE 17. Where the extrusions 18 areemployed for either horizontal or vertical supports, additional slotswill be provided in either or both of the post extrusions 10 and therail extrusions 18. While the rails may be connected to the coverextrusion 22, this extrusion will normally lie on the side of theextrusions 18 opposite the interconnecting support where it will serveprimarily as a cap or cover.

FIGURE 18 illustrates the manner in which spindles or bars 8 may bemounted between the top and lower rail assemblies, the extrusions 18being provided with cutouts 37 of a size to receive the spindles, whichin the embodiment illustrated comprise generally rectangular tubeshaving their ends split so that they may be turned outwardly, as at 38,to thereby secure them in place. FIG- URE 18 also serves to illustratethe manner in which adjoining sections of railing may be broughttogether in angular relation. Thus, the extrusions 28a and 2812 arebrought together in a mitered joint 39. In similar fashion, theextrusion 18a will have its end edge cut slantwise, as at 40, so as tofit against the post 1 at the desired angle of inclination. While in theembodiment illustrated the inclination is in a vertical plane, similarconsiderations apply with respect to the horizontal plane, as where theguardrail would turn a corner or the like. It is also within the spiritand purpose of the invention to provide special sections of curvedconfiguration wherein such are required.

A wire mesh barrier material may be secured to the guardrail assembly inthe manner illustrated in FIGURE 19. As seen therein, the extrusions 18may be provided with spaced apart openings 41 extending longitudinallyof the extrusions, irrespective of whether such extrusions comprise apart of the top rail assembly 2, the lower r-ail assembly 3, or thevertical supports 4. The spacing of the openings 41 will be such thatthe ends of the wire mesh, indicated at 42, may be inserted through theopenings and either bent over or twisted together on the inner sides ofthe extrusions so as to secure the mesh in place. It will be apparentthat similar spaced apart openings may be provided in the body of theextrusions 10, which form the post assemblies, where it is desired tosecure the mesh material directly to the posts.

FIGURE 20 illustrates the manner in which solid barrier panels, such asthe panel members 6 and 9 may be affixed to the guardrail by means ofnarrow channel shaped member 43 which may be secured to the extrusions18 of the top or bottom rail assemblies, or to the extrusions 10 of thepost assemblies. The channel members 43 will be of a size to just nicelyreceive the edges of the panels and hold them securely in place.Alternatively, the extrusions could be provided with recessed grooves toreceive the panel edges; although this would require modification of theextrusion.

As should now be apparent, the instant invention provides a highlyversatile guardrail construction capable of numerous modifications toadd a distinctively different appearance to any given installation. Yet,component parts are essentially standardized and require only threebasic extrusions plus the cover member which serves to close the basicrail extrusion. The construction of the parts is such that they may bereadily assembled without resort to bolts or other fastening means whichwould be exposed to view; and the entire assembly is such that it may befitted together piece by piece as the construction of the guardrailprogresses. In this connection, it is to be understood that the postsmay be mounted in place by any known anchoring means, inclusive of theuse of anchor bolts and the like, whether exposed or not; and while, aspreviously pointed out, the components do not require externally visiblefastening means to joint them together, there may be instances whereinsuch fastening means may be deemed necessary or desirable, and it is tobe understood that their use is not precluded. Other modifications maybe made in the invention without departing from its spirit and purpose.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A guardrail construction comprising a plurality of vertical postsarranged in spaced apart relation, each of said posts comprising a pairof essentially identical generally U-shaped post extrusions each havingan inturned longitudinal bead along one side edge and a reversely bentportion along the opposite side edge defining an outwardly openinglongitudinal channel, said pairs of post extrusions being fittedtogether with their respective longitudinal beads received in thelongitudinal channel of the other, and locking means securing said pairsof extrusions together, said locking means comprising an essentiallyrectangular bar wedged in contact with the reversely bent portions ofthe fitted together post extrusions, and rail assemblies extendingbetween said posts, said rail assemblies each comprising a generallyU-shaped rail extrusion having flanges extending along its opposite sideedges, attachment means securing the opposite ends of said railextrusions to said posts, some at least of said rail extrusionsextending between the uppermost ends of said posts with their flangesuppermost, and a top rail extrusion overlying and covering said lastnamed rail extrusions and the uppermost ends of said posts, said toprail extrusion having longitudinally extending locking tongues engagingthe flanges of the underlying rail extrusions.

2. The guardrail construction claimed in claim 1 wherein others of saidrail extrusions extend between said posts adjacent their lowermost ends,wherein the flanges of said last named rail extrusions face downwardly,and wherein a cover member closes the underside of each of the said lastnamed rail extrusions, said cover members having a pair oflongitudinally extending ribs terminating in lips engaged with theflanges of said rail extrusions.

3. The guardrail construction claimed in claim 2 including barrier meansintermediate said posts and secured to said rail extrusions.

4. The guardrail construction claimed in claim 3 including additionalrail extrusions extending between the rail extrusions defining said topand lower rail assemblies, including attachment means securing the endsof said last named rail extrusions to the rail extrusions of said topand lower rail assemblies.

5. The guardrail construction claimed in claim 3 wherein additional railextrusions extend between adjacent pairs of said posts, and whereinattachment means secure said last named rail extrusions to said posts.

6. A guardrail construction comprising a plurality of vertical postsarranged in spaced apart relation, each of said posts comprising a pairof essentially identical generally U-shaped post extrusions each havingan inturned longitudinal bead along one side edge and a reversely bentportion along the opposite side edge defining an outwardly openinglongitudinal channel, said pairs of post extrusions being fittedtogether with their respective longitudinal beads received in thelongitudinal channel of the other, and locking means securing said pairsof extrusions together, said locking means comprising a locking barwedged between the reversely bent portions of the fitted together postextrusions and a pair of longitudinal shoulders projecting inwardly fromthe opposite sides of said post extrusions, and rail assembliesextending between said posts, said rail assemblies each comprising agenerally U-shaped rail extrusion having flanges extending along itsopposite side edges, and attachment means securing the opposite ends ofsaid rail extrusions to said posts.

7. In a guardrail construction wherein a plurality of vertical posts arearranged in spaced apart relation and wherein rail assemblies extendbetween said posts, a post construction comprising a pair of essentiallyidentical generally U-shaped post extrusions each having an inturnedlongitudinal bead along one side edge and a reversely bent portion alongthe opposite side edge defining an outwardly opening longitudinalchannel, said pairs of post extrusions being fitted together with theirrespective longitudinal beads received in the longitudinal channel ofthe other, and locking means securing said pairs of extrusions together,said locking means comprising a looking bar wedged in contact with thereversely bent portions of the fitted together post extrusions.

8. The post construction claimed in claim 7 wherein said longitudinalbeads are of a size to be slidably received in said longitudinalchannels, whereby a pair of said extrusions may be fitted together byplacing them in end to end relation with their respective longitudinalbeads in alignment with the longitudinal channel of the other and theneffecting axial movement of the extrusions so as to bring them togetherin interlocking relationship.

9. A guardrail construction comprising a plurality of vertical postsarranged in spaced apart relation, each of said posts comprising a pairof essentially identical generally U-shaped post extrusions each havingan inturned longitudinal bead along one side edge and a reversely bentportion along the opposite side edge defining an outwardly openinglongitudinal channel, the pairs of post extrusions being fitted togetherwith their respective longitudinal beads received in the longitudinalchannel of the other, and locking means securing said pairs ofextrusions together, said locking means comprising a locking bar wedgedin contact with the reversely bent portions of the fitted together postextrusions, and rail assemblies extending between said posts, said railassemblies each com- 7 prising a generally U-shaped rail extrusionhaving flanges extending along its opposite side edges, and means forsecuring the opposite end edges of said rail extrusion to said posts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 910,459 1/1909Craig 256-6S X 1,299,787 4/1919 Schluter 52-301 X 2,508,032 5/1950Kennedy 52731 2,590,929 4/1952 Bush 256-22 2,808,233 10/1957 Spescha256--22 :8 2/1959 Blurn 256--31 9/1962 Miller 72732 FOREIGN PATENTS9/1958 Belgium. 7/1934 Great Britain. 2/ 1961 Switzerland.

9. A GUARDRAIL CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL POSTSARRANGED IN SPACED APART RELATION, EACH OF SAID POSTS COMPRISING A PAIROF ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL GENERALLY U-SHAPED POST EXTRUSIONS EACH HAVINGAN INTURNED LONGITUDINAL BEAD ALONG ONE SIDE EDGE AND A REVERSELY BENTPORTION ALONG THE OPPOSITE SIDE EDGE DEFINING AN OUTWARDLY OPENINGLONGITUDINAL CHANNEL, THE PAIRS OF POST EXTRUSIONS BEING FITTED TOGETHERWITH THEIR RESPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL BEADS RECEIVED IN THE LONGITUDINALCHANNEL OF THE OTHER, AND LOCKING MEANS SECURING SAID PAIRS OFEXTRUSIONS TOGETHER, SAID LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING A LOCKING BAR WEDGEDIN CONTACT WITH THE REVERSELY BENT PORTIONS OF THE FITTED TOGETHER POSTEXTRUSIONS, AND RAIL ASSEMBLIES EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID POSTS, SAID RAILASSEMBLIES EACH COMPRISING A GENERALLY U-SHAPED RAIL EXTRUSION HAVINGFLANGES EXTENDING ALONG ITS OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES, AND MEANS FOR SECURINGTHE OPPOSITE END EDGES OF SAID RAIL EXTRUSION TO SAID POSTS.